Mulch in spring-planted trees and shrubs. Don’t permit them to get too dry; water them throughly and deeply Start amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus for holiday blooms. (Allow 5-6 weeks for paperwhites and 12 weeks for amaryllis). Apply fall lawn fertilizer at this time Apply lime to lawns to raise pH. A 50# bag of […]
Fall is right around the corner and it is a glorious time. The countryside is virtually exploding with oranges, reds, golds and yellows. This is a great time of the year to enjoy the out-of-doors. It is also a great time for fall gardens as autumn mums and perennials finish the season with a flourish. […]
Fall is a great time to plant trees, shrubs, bareroot perennials and bulbs. Start pansy & viola seed for bloom next spring Watch your compost pile. This is a good time to add an activator for brown leaves & lawn trimmings Check your lawn for grub activity. Sure signs are brown patches of lawn with […]
Are you overloaded with new ideas for perennial beds and borders after visiting friends or public display gardens? Seen lots of unfamiliar and interesting new plants at the nursery? If so, fall is an excellent time to prepare fall garden beds for planting now or in the spring. The cooler temperatures, weaker sunlight and shorter days […]
It’s always a shame that just when your window box has reached their peak of fullness and color, autumn sneaks in and nips at the foliage and flowers, signaling it’s time to clean them out. Or is it? This season, try extending the life of your window boxes, so you can appreciate their beauty year-round, each […]
As your lawn endures the trials of job this summer – drought, pestilence and disease – you must hold to the hope that there is a lush, green turf on the other side of this summer. Has your spring turf been reduced to an arid, brown toasty color? If not, you might want to submit […]
For your Lawn Water deep and infrequently during the summer months. One inch of water early in the day about once a week is adequate. Help your lawn out by changing direction when mowing. Travel north to south on one mowing and east to west on the next cutting. In late August, prepare the lawn […]
If your perennial flower garden gets a little drab and boring come late summer and fall, think about planting dahlias. Gardeners are always trying to find colorful flowers to keep the show going into autumn, and dahlias are the perfect star to fit the bill. Dahlias just need a little more thought and attention compared […]
It’s hot out there for newly planted trees and shrubs. These plants may be struggling to survive the heat and drought because their root systems haven’t had a chance to get established in the native soil yet. That’s why it’s important to pamper spring-planted trees and shrubs during the first year after planting. Most trees […]
Not all insects are harmful to your garden; in fact, many are beneficial and are an important part of the ecosystem. Chemicals used to eliminate insects do not discriminate between the good bugs and the bad ones, so you can limit the damage done to beneficial insects and, at the same time, keep harmful chemicals […]
Moonlit Gardens Although gardeners often dream of sun-splashed borders filled with stately perennials, many are discovering that their daisies, daylilies, and daffodils are working overtime, bringing the garden to light…at night! Welcome to the world of the garden after dark. With busy families finding fewer daylight hours to enjoy their gardens, it makes perfect sense […]
Is it too late to talk about mulch? No, indeed! We’re coming up on the hottest part of the year when mulch can help keep roots cool and growing (remember – grow the roots, the rest of the plant will take care of itself) and when we need to conserve moisture. Save the delivery charge […]
Fertilizing plants can be a bit bewildering, but to get the most out of your plants, especially container plants, it is essential. Have you ever wondered why some people and places seem to have larger, fuller plants? The likely answer is regular fertilization and correct watering. While many plants will do OK with little or […]
Until recently, many gardeners saw roses as too frustrating or time consuming for average people. Further, the amount of fungicides and insecticides required were not ecologically or economically friendly. Fortunately, advances in rose breeding have changed all this, making roses something any gardener can enjoy. Often called shrub or landscape roses, these are bred for […]
They say the way to Dad’s heart is through his stomach, so why not say Happy Father’s day this year with a ‘Pizza Planter’? It is a fun and playful way to tell all the Dads out there how much you care – plus who can resist pizza? The key to this planter is combining […]